Select committee: Foreign Affairs Committee
Conclusion 25
1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict
Published 25 Jul 2025
Addressed to Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Foreign Affairs Committee The Israeli-Palestinian conflict All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Conclusion (the committee's words)
The UK needs to continue its support for Lebanon, which is a vital component of stability in the Levant, situated as it is alongside Syria, with its fragile polity and its strong ties to Lebanon. The UK Government should prioritise spending on both civil and military support for Lebanon’s 55 economic and social stability, in particular for its armed forces in their implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and the November 2024 ceasefire with Israel, to help strengthen Lebanon as a major component of the regional peacebuilding infrastructure. It is vital that the UK supports the Lebanese Armed Forces because if the area is to be stabilised, people need to believe they will be protected by the official military force of the Lebanese Government so that they will feel confident enough to hand over their weapons. The UK Government should prioritise assistance to Lebanon’s nation-building, as nation-building is an area where the UK can add value through its expertise. (Recommendation, Paragraph 136) 56
From: Foreign Affairs Committee, 1st Report - Israel-Palestine conflict (HC 488), 25 July 2025
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 30 October 2025 (deadline 25 September 2025).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government agrees with most of the Committee's recommendations, partially agrees on arbitrary detention and on evidence-gathering in Gaza, and "notes" those on F-35 exports, a settlement goods ban and future sanctions.
- On recognition of Palestine, the government agrees with the recommendation and states that on 21 September the UK "officially recognised the state of Palestine as a sovereign and independent state".
- On F-35 exports, the government "notes" the recommendation, says the only exception to the suspension is parts for the global F-35 programme, and says it "will always act in line with domestic and international law".
- On arbitrary detention, the government agrees on establishing an Envoy but disagrees on the definition, saying there is "not a single internationally agreed definition".
- On a Gaza evidence-gathering project modelled on Ukraine, the government "does not agree that this particular model would work", citing the lack of a state partner or structures on the ground and challenges of access.